The supporters were left reeling by a flurry of blows which threatened to wreck Steve McClaren's plans for the new season.

Just hours after it emerged record signing Massimo Maccarone would miss the start of the new campaign with an ankle injury, Boro learned that transfer target Flavio Conceicao had joined German outfit Borussia Dortmund on a year's loan.

It left the Brazilian midfielder Doriva as McClaren's only summer signing, with squad numbers reduced because three key men were on the injury list.

Maccarone headed for hospital on Monday for further scans on the ankle he damaged in the 1-0 friendly win at Hull, and left in plaster. The cast will protect the joint until the swelling goes down, and doctors will take another look next week in a bid to assess the full extent of the problem.

McClaren said: "Unfortunately, Massimo will certainly miss the start of the season, which is a big blow to us because he was looking so well in pre-season. But what we've got to do now is concentrate on getting the lad right and back on the pitch as quickly as possible."

Maccarone follows defenders Ugo Ehiogu and David Murphy in the Rockliffe Park treatment room, although he will hope his absence will be shorter than those of his team-mates. Ehiogu faces several months out of action after tearing his cruciate ligament, while Murphy is recovering from a broken bone in his foot.

With Michael Ricketts and George Boateng both battling against the clock to be fit for the start of the season, it's a situation that Boro could have done without.

On the signings front, McClaren was forced to look elsewhere when Flavio cited the chance to play Champions League football as his reason for joining Dortmund.

He said: "I have chosen the German team because they are going to be playing in the Champions League next season and that is very important for me because it shows they are ambitious.

"I want to publicly thank Middlesbrough with all my heart for the interest they showed in me."

However, out of the ashes of adversity will come a renewed desire to get everything back on track. McClaren won't be knocked back by such setbacks. Within hours of losing Flavio, he had already turned his attentions to Inter Milan midfielder Stephane Dalmat.

Clearly the Boro boss doesn't have a great deal of cash to spend this summer, but he is determined to spend it - and use the money wisely to strengthen the squad.